The Best Waterproof Digital Camera
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios

If you like to get out into the water, especially for such pursuits as snorkeling and scuba diving, then you’ll want a waterproof digital camera as there is such a plethora to see and photograph in this amazing medium. Yet in reality there is no such thing as a waterproof digital camera –or for any type of camera, for that matter. Surprised? In reality, it’s “housing” that you’re looking for (aren’t we all, these days –but the interest rates are sheer murder!).

In all seriousness, though, this is good news. Housing is merely a specialized case that goes around your present digi-camera, allowing it to go underwater with you without pulling an electric eel trick on you, or of itself being destroyed. This is good news as it’s often much cheaper to pay for the housing for a “waterproof digital camera” than for another whole camera.

Most of the major digi-camera makers manufacture and sell these housings for each type of camera that they make. However, if you own an off-brand that may no longer be in business, or simply doesn’t have the capital overhead to go into underwater production, then all is not lost.

Rather than trying to construct your waterproof digital camera by building your own housing, do a little research. There are a few different companies that produce a bag-like device complete with its own hard plastic window to accommodate nearly every camera ever made. One note, if you’re thinking about just putting your camera in a plastic bag, give this idea the ol’ heave-ho, as the risk is not worth it. Chances are, water (–especially if it is salt water) will get into the bag and onto your camera, effectively ending its working existence. It only takes one ‘well placed’ drop to lose the $200 or so that you put into your camera.

With this in mind, do consider how you’ll remove your waterproof digital camera once you exit the water. Whether you go with ‘the bag’ housing option or the more rigid housing, it can be tricky. To open the housing immediately again puts your camera at risk, so I propose waiting at least half an hour after you’ve exited the water, doing an extremely thorough dry job (including using canned air or a hair dryer set on cool, even after towel drying).

One thing to think about before plopping down any money on an underwater digital camera housing is how deep you will go. This is vital as we humans are exploring ever-deeper marine areas and the depth pressures may harm lesser housings.

Chances are you will have an exceptional time with your underwater digital camera. As with regular film-oriented photography, there is an exceptional array of aquatic flora and fauna to capture on film. As well, there are sunken wrecks and natural phenomena that can lend themselves to amazing photography. Swim well, shoot better.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.